Chapter 12

Ahmad stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. Walking further into his bedroom, he met Hidayah waiting for him on his couch, looking pissed. Why does she easily get upset over silly things? She wasn't jealous about him talking to another girl, was she? Why would even get worried about it after she had clarified that she hated him. He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head delicately as he proceeded to his closet. He never glanced her way again nor asked why she was in his room. Obviously Layla was the reason behind her anger. Or was she afraid that he might have a phone call with her again? Hidayah fixed her not so soothing-looking eyes on him as he got ready for bed. He finally set his eyes on her from a distant, giving her a grim smile of satisfaction. For many reasons, With a long sigh, he walked over to her and settled down beside her. He placed his hands gently on her cheeks and made her to face him. He looked into her eyes, gently lacing his fingers with her. 'Hidayah, what's wrong? Why do you look upset?" With a yearning expression, he spoke to her. She narrowed her eyes and gave him a sour expression. 'I thought you were going to apologize for what you did." Ahmad pretended as if he didn't know what she was talking about. 'Apologize for what? What have I done? Or is it the vicious stuff you told Ummah I was doing to you? What have I done again, Hidayah?" He queried as he wore a lovely smile on his face. Hidayah furiously whacked his hands away from hers. A boiling fury swells inside of her as she begin to yell. 'Stop trying to act cool and don't turn me into a dumb person. What you did back there in the car was what? Nothing?" He still reached out to grab her hands despite the fact that she was at the top, yelling. 'Hidayah, calm down. Just calm down, It's not what you think, okay?" 'How dare you talk to another girl in front of me, your wife and you have the audacity to tell her you'd meet her tomorrow. Seriously, Ahmad I thought you were better than this. And you have the audacity to accuse me and call me all sort of bad names. Then, I was thinking I wasn't pious not knowing that I wasn't the only one. What are you looking at? For real? You're just going to sit here and stare at me while you know that you're cheating on me with some trashy girl out there!" All he could do at the moment was sit there, admire her bright and mesmerising brown eyes, her soft looking skin, her plump pink lips. He brightened up a little despite her ride remark. He stared at her eyes longingly, not a word spoken by him. He was lost within the breathless paradise of her dreamy eyes and no sooner without any revelation, clutched his arms around her waist. Her breath was taken away, not from the squeeze but from the realization that his arms were finally around her. She rested her head on his shoulder as he started rubbing her lower back softly. He kissed her neck and whispered into her ear. 'Calm down, hidayah. Calm down. Are you jealous?" Within seconds, she erupted like a volcano and pushed him away. 'To hell with the jealousy you speak of!" He pulled her back into his arms. 'Okay, I'm sorry, hidayah. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She got tired of struggling for her freedom and snuggled in, wrapping her arms around his torso. She had been hugged before, but never like that since her father passed away. There was something so warm, something that felt right, smelt right. She let her body to relax, her muscles become loose. He gave her the respect of an equal but cradled her like a cherished child. In that embrace, she felt her worries loose their keen sting her optimism raise its head from the dirt. Perhaps the hope had been there all along, but without some love it was trapped, like crystals in a stone. She felt him brush her hair back with his fingers and started kissing her now frail neck which made her even weaker than before. His lips then hers in a tender, yearning kiss. He holds her tight against his chest, deepening the kiss into a fervent embrace. Taking her to his bed, he carefully lifts her up, pulling her on top of him as he sinks back onto the mattress. He pulls away and showers kisses on her chest and neck, making her to shudder with pleasure. His kisses dots up her neck, until he reaches her lips again. He enraptures her in a heavy kiss until finally undressing in each other. ** A rose-pink sunrise trickles in through the window, gradually bringing her awake. She glances beside her, he wasn't there. She sat up right, furrowing her brows. She picked up his phone that was on the side drawer to check the time. It was past 10 in the morning. She heaved a sigh, at least his phone being there was a sign that he was somewhere in the house. She was attempting to get out off the bed when he sauntered in, holding a tray of so many goodies he cooked for her. She raised a brow, dazed. He kept the tray on the bed inches away from her and inched closer to her face before planting a kiss on her cheek. Hidayah couldn't fight the hot blush as her heart skipped a bit. She shifted her gaze away. She had suddenly lost the ability of speech. 'Seeing a sweet smile on your face literally makes me forget about all my worries..." He paused, a smile flickers at the corner of his mouth. She could feel him staring at her. She pushed away and sauntered into the bathroom in a hurry. After short period of time, she came out and met him answering a call. He ended the call, his eyes glued to her. Eyes roaming around her body. She had the appearance of soul fire sparking against the ice. He couldn't be more thankful for having her as his wife. 'Who was that you were talking to?" She furrowed her brows, arms crossed on her chest. 'It was work, I promise." Smile sneaks out the corner of his mouth. It was very obvious that her jealousy had aroused and she couldn't hide it. 'Come." He motioned her, arms opened and ready for her to enter. Hidayah smiled and didn't hesitate to enter his arms. He enfolds her in a gentle hug, and she buried her face in his chest and looped her arms around his torso. A long moment later, he pulls away, smiling. 'Your breakfast is getting cold." He mentioned. She gapes and looked at the tray she had long forgotten about it. She was so lost in being in his warm embrace that she had forgotten about her surrounding. 'You cooked?" She asked, sitting beside the tray. Her mouth already watery as she scanned the tray. Cinnamon roll kabaobs, sugar & strawberry waffles, freshly cut apples, grapes and strawberry, hot tea... all for her? 'Yes. Yummy and sweet breakfast for a beautiful wife." He kissed her temple while she kept staring at the breakfast. 'This looks yummy..." She allowed her words to hang while she took the first bite of the cinnamon rolls. Closing her eyes, hidayah simply enjoyed. He stared at her with admiration. Hidayah wasn't perfect, he knew that. And she was tough to handle and they were never in good terms but, he admired her regardless. He heard fancier words. Seen more gracious face. He has been offered fine gifts of luxury. But she was the real thing, the one he had a special feeling for. 'Aren't you going to eat?" She interrupted his fantasy. 'Hm? Oh, I've eaten. Just... enjoy your breakfast, okay?" She smirked and shrugged her shoulders. After she was done eating, he cleared the place and came back. 'Now, do you know what?" He started, clearly unsure if she would say yes. Hidayah raised her brows in response. He closed the gap between them and whispered. She could swear her jaw dropped on the floor. 'No, Ahmad, I will not take a bath with you. A full grown man? NO! Never!" He couldn't help but chuckle. 'But the full grown man is your husband. And he'd make sure you enjoy the bath. C'mon, we're taking a bath together. Get up." He got to his feet and grabbed her hand, pulling her up. After so much protest, she finally agreed to his request. Beneath the shower head, the most reliable of silver clouds, she was standing before a grown man she disliked, helpless. She closed her eyes, avoiding his gaze. 'Why are you closing your eyes? Or you can't stand the beauty of the man standing before you?" She opened her eyes as she scoffed. 'In your dreams..." It was like a magic, he took her off guard and joined their lips together. She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him back deeply. He sinks into the kiss, his hands warming her skin as they wrap around her and wander down her back. His mouth moves down her neck, gently. He kissed her long, deep, wanting... and she responded, arching into him. He showers kisses on her chest and neck and she shudders with pleasure. His kisses dots up her neck, until he reaches her lips again. He enraptures her in a heavy kiss until finally pulling back. ** It was still early when the clouds gave off their rain to the grass and trees, when the road became alive with more splashes than her eyes could appreciate. Yet together they brought such a soothing sound, a natural melody every bit as beautiful as a mother's soulful hum. Hidayah dropped the curtain and turned. She gasped, placing her hand over her chest. She wasn't expecting him to be behind her. She heaves and raised a brow. 'What?" He smiled immediately after she had asked the question he wanted to hear. 'I was just thinking, why don't we clean the house today? Do some cooking afterwards." He held her soft hand and walked them out of the room. Hidayah didn't deny his proposal, how could she? After all she wouldn't want him to go see that smutty girl he was talking about the previous day. She followed him to the living room, but she had her head screwed tight, none of his psychological schemes will work on her. It may have worked the previous day and every other day but not today. She wasn't ready to accept her sister's words that she may, kind of ‘like him'. That was something hidayah was not ready to wrap around her head not to talk of actually agreeing to it. She had already made plans on how to get out of that illicit marriage even before coming into his house. There wasn't anyway just one time she would change her mind all because he was being kind to her. Why wouldn't he be all sweet and caring after what he had done to her? Hidayah shook her head, reminding herself that she belongs to her beloved Adam, not Ahmad. 'Stay here, I'll go get the cleaning supplies." His voice interrupted her reverie. She looked at him and blinked. He went into the kitchen while she stood there, looking at his retreating back until he disappeared into the kitchen. She heaved a sigh and looked around the dusty living room. She bite her lower lip, trying to ignore the remorse eating her up. She had already told him she wasn't going to do any house chores since day one. Nothing to be guilty about. He came out shortly and without wasting time, they started cleaning. He was dusting the cushions while she swept the dusty marbled tiles. So many thoughts roamed around her head but a the sam time, she couldn't prevent herself from glancing at him every minute. 'So... what's it like to be a wing commander? What does that mean anyways?" She shrugged her shoulders, pretending like she wasn't interested to know. He raised his head to look at her. She was trying to make a conversation? He smiled before responding. 'A commissioned officer in the British Air Force who ranks with a lieutenant colonel in the army. How did you know my rank? Have you been spying on me?" He teased her, a smirk making its way to his lips. Her mouth parted, trying to defend herself. She appeared taken back by his question. She went through his stuff, but she wasn't suppose to tell him that, was she? 'I should take you to work with me one day, before you start your service. There's a woman that has been going crazy about me. She's a Master Warrant Officer..." 'All these soldier women look like men. Why would a woman join the army? I mean they are all bad-looking women." She blabbered unknowingly. He tried to suppress his chuckle, but ended up bursting into loud laughter. 'Is someone jealous? Why are you throwing all these insults at them? I haven't even shown you her picture but you're already criticising her." Her cheeks flushed red the moment she realized what she had said. 'I wasn't criticising her, I generalised my speech, all the women in the army aren't good looking. And why do you have her picture? So you guys talk?" She furrowed her brows, the broom stick long dropped on the marbled tiles. Ahmad laughed again, his laughter could be heard throughout the house. 'You haven't seen the women in the Air Force; so attractive..." Without hesitation, hidayah took the nearest pillow and hit his head with it. 'Oh! Hey... why did you..." She hit him again but luckily, he dodged the second attack. 'Okay, okay... I'm sorry. They're all ugly..." He laughs, trying to dodge her attacks. Hidayah smiled a little and dropped the pillow. 'Don't repeat that rough play with me again." She warned playfully and picked up the broom stick she dropped. 'What? Talk about other women? Hm, I feel so loved." He laughed again... and then his face turns serious as he grabbed the broom stick and dropped it. He placed his hands on her waist. She looked up at his eyes as he draws her closer to him. She lets out a breath, surrounding to Ahmad's touch, as his hands caress her waist. 'You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, hidayah. You're always beautiful and you will always be beautiful in my eyes." He said softly and she smiled, not only because of his sweet words but the deep voice. It was the kind of deep voice that is so very easy to fall in love with, that auditory caramel. Hidayah had never felt reassured and calm like she was at that moment. For one thing, she hated the pain she felt while getting jealous. She lowered her gaze. She couldn't stand the intense gaze he was sending her. He cupped her face in his hands and their eyes connected with his, which grew closer as he moved to kiss her. The hair on the back of her neck raises when his lips finds hers. She smiled into the kiss. He pulled back, breathless, he brushes her cheek with his thumbs. He smiled and leaned close to her, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he whispers in her ear. 'Let's get back to work before I go off the deep end." Hidayah smiled, knowing fully well what he meant. She slowly pulled herself away from him and picked up the broom stick.